Ye are as gods！ Nay； makers of your gods；
Each day ye break an image in your shrine
And plant a fairer image where it stood
Where is the Moloch of your fathers' creed；
Whose fires of torment burned for span…long babes？
Fit object for a tender mother's love！
Why not ？ It was a bargain duly made
For these same infants through the surety's act
Intrusted with their all for earth and heaven；
By Him who chose their guardian； knowing well
His fitness for the task；this； even this；
Was the true doctrine only yesterday
As thoughts are reckoned；and to…day you hear
In words that sound as if from human tongues
Those monstrous； uncouth horrors of the past
That blot the blue of heaven and shame the earth
As would the saurians of the age of slime；
Awaking from their stony sepulchres
And wallowing hateful in the eye of day！
Four of us listened to these lines as the young man read them；the
Master and myself and our two ladies。 This was the little party we
got up to hear him read。 I do not think much of it was very new to
the Master or myself。 At any rate； he said to me when we were alone；
That is the kind of talk the 〃natural man；〃 as the theologians call
him； is apt to fall into。
I thought it was the Apostle Paul； and not the theologians； that
used the term 〃natural man； I ventured to suggest。
I should like to know where the Apostle Paul learned English？said
the Master； with the look of one who does not mean to be tripped up
if he can help himself。…But at any rate；he continued；the
〃natural man；〃 so called； is worth listening to now and then； for he
didn't make his nature； and the Devil did n't make it； and if the
Almighty made it； I never saw or heard of anything he made that
wasn't worth attending to。
The young man begged the Lady to pardon anything that might sound
harshly in these crude thoughts of his。 He had been taught strange
things； he said； from old theologies； when he was a child； and had
thought his way out of many of his early superstitions。 As for the
Young Girl； our Scheherezade； he said to her that she must have got
dreadfully tired （at which she colored up and said it was no such
thing）； and he promised that； to pay for her goodness in listening；
he would give her a lesson in astronomy the next fair evening； if she
would be his scholar； at which she blushed deeper than before； and
said something which certainly was not No。
IX
There was no sooner a vacancy on our side of the table； than the
Master proposed a change of seats which would bring the Young
Astronomer into our immediate neighborhood。 The Scarabee was to move
into the place of our late unlamented associate； the Man of Letters；
so called。 I was to take his place； the Master to take mine； and the
young man that which had been occupied by the Master。 The advantages
of this change were obvious。 The old Master likes an audience；
plainly enough； and with myself on one side of him； and the young
student of science； whose speculative turn is sufficiently shown in
the passages from his poem； on the other side； he may feel quite sure
of being listened to。 There is only one trouble in the arrangement；
and that is that it brings this young man not only close to us； but
also next to our Scheherezade。
I am obliged to confess that he has shown occasional marks of
inattention even while the Master was discoursing in a way that I
found agreeable enough。 I am quite sure it is no intentional
disrespect to the old Master。 It seems to me rather that he has
become interested in the astronomical lessons he has been giving the
Young Girl。 He has studied so much alone； that it is naturally a
pleasure to him to impart some of his knowledge。 As for his young
pupil； she has often thought of being a teacher herself； so that she
is of course very glad to acquire any accomplishment that may be
useful to her in that capacity。 I do not see any reason why some of
the boarders should have made such remarks as they have done。 One
cannot teach astronomy to advantage； without going out of doors；
though I confess that when two young people go out by daylight to
study the stars； as these young folks have done once or twice； I do
not so much wonder at a remark or suggestion from those who have
nothing better to do than study their neighbors。
I ought to have told the reader before this that I found； as I
suspected； that our innocent…looking Scheherezade was at the bottom
of the popgun business。 I watched her very closely； and one day；
when the little monkey made us all laugh by stopping the Member of
the Haouse in the middle of a speech he was repeating to us；it was
his great effort of the season on a bill for the protection of horn…
pout in Little Muddy River；I caught her making the signs that set
him going。 At a slight tap of her knife against her plate； he got
all ready； and presently I saw her cross her knife and fork upon her
plate； and as she did so； pop！ went the small piece of artillery。
The Member of the Haouse was just saying that this bill hit his
constitooents in their most vitalwhen a pellet hit him in the
feature of his countenance most exposed to aggressions and least
tolerant of liberties。 The Member resented this unparliamentary
treatment by jumping up from his chair and giving the small aggressor
a good shaking； at the same time seizing the implement which had
caused his wrath and breaking it into splinters。 The Boy blubbered；
the Young Girl changed color； and looked as if she would cry； and
that was the last of these interruptions。
I must own that I have sometimes wished we had the popgun back； for
it answered all the purpose of 〃the previous question〃 in a
deliberative assembly。 No doubt the Young Girl was capricious in
setting the little engine at work； but she cut short a good many
disquisitions that threatened to be tedious。 I find myself often
wishing for her and her small fellow…conspirator's intervention； in
company where I am supposed to be enjoying myself。 When my friend
the politician gets too far into the personal details of the quorum
pars magna fui； I find myself all at once exclaiming in mental
articulation； Popgun！ When my friend the story…teller begins that
protracted narrative which has often emptied me of all my voluntary
laughter for the evening； he has got but a very little way when I say
to myself； What wouldn't I give for a pellet from that popgun！ In
short； so useful has that trivial implement proved as a jaw…stopper
and a boricide； that I never go to a club or a dinner…party； without
wishing the company included our Scheherezade and That Boy with his
popgun。
How clearly I see now into the mechanism of the Young Girl's
audacious contrivance for regulating our table…talk！ Her brain is
tired half the time； and she is too nervous to listen patiently to
what a quieter person would like well enough； or at least would not
be annoyed by。 It amused her to invent a scheme for managing the
headstrong talkers； and also let off a certain spirit of mischief
which in some of these nervous girls shows itself in much more
questionable forms。 How cunning these half…hysteric young persons
are； to be sure！ I had to watch a long time before I detected the
telegraphic communication between the two conspirators。 I have no
doubt she had sedulously schooled the little monkey to his business；
and found great delight in the task of instruction。
But now that our Scheherezade has become a scholar instead of a
teacher； she seems to be undergoing a remarkable transformation。
Astronomy is indeed a noble science。 It may well kindle the
enthusiasm of a youthful nature。 I fancy at times that I see
something of that starry light which I noticed in the young man's
eyes gradually kindling in hers。 But can it be astronomy alone that
does it？ Her color comes and goes more readily than when the old
Master sat next her on the left。 It is having this young man at her
side； I suppose。 Of course it is。 I watch her with great； I may say
tender interest。 If he would only fall in love with her； seize upon
her wandering affections and fancies as the Romans seized the Sabine
virgins； lift her out of herself and her listless and weary
drudgeries； stop the outflow of this young life which is draining
itself away in forced literary labordear me； dear meif； if； if
〃If I were God
An' ye were Martin Elginbrod！〃
I am afraid all this may never be。 I fear that he is too much given
to lonely study； to self…companionship； to all sorts of questionings；
to looking at life as at a solemn show where he is only a spectator。
I dare not build up a romance on what I have yet seen。 My reader
may； but I will answer for nothing。 I shall wait and see。
The old Master and I have at last made that visit to the Scarabee
which we had so long promised ourselves。
When we knocked at his door he came and opened it； instead of saying；
Come in。 He was surprised； I have no doubt； at the sound of our
footsteps； for he rarely has a visitor； except the little monkey of a
boy； and he may have thought a troop of marauders were coming to rob
him of his treasures。 Collectors feel so rich in the possession of
their rarer specimens； that they forget how cheap their precious
things seem to common eyes； and are as afraid of being robbed as if
they were dealers in diamonds。 They have the name of stealing from
each other now and then； it is true； but many of their priceless
possessions would hardly tempt a beggar。 Values are artificial： you
will not be able to get ten cents of the year 1799 for a dime。
The Scarabee was reassured as soon as he saw our faces； and he
welcomed us not ungraciously into his small apartment。 It was hard
to find a place to sit down； for all the chairs were already occupied
by cases and boxes full of his favorites。 I began； therefore；
looking round the room。 Bugs of every size and aspect met my eyes
wherever they turned。 I felt for the moment as I suppose a man may
feel in a fit of delirium tremens。 Presently my attention was drawn
towards a very odd…looking insect on the mantelpiece。 This animal
was incessantly raising its arms as if towards heaven and clasping
them together； as th